Cooler Master HAF 932 grounding issue

[Puffnstuff]

I just moved my pc from a xclio windtunnel to a cooler master haf 932 and I've begun to notice buzzing in my microphone. If I touch the case while using the mic the buzzing is reduced. Has anybody else noticed a grounding issue with the haf and if so what did you do to resolve it? I double checked to make sure everything is secured inside the case so now I'm wondering if I should physically attach a ground wire to the case and run it to another point to ground to. I've never had a case do this before. Also I'm using the provided wheels on the bottom instead of the feet.

 

[Kenmitch]

I'm thinking your plugging your mic into the port on the case? If so have you tried to plug it into the sound card or MB connector to see if it has the same buzzing sound.

If the buzzing does go away when not plugged into the case(If it is) then I'd double check the leads from the case to the MB. Maybe case leads are not correct pinout for the MB header.

I'd think that the power supply would handle all ground issues.

 

[gba]

Zepper once did a thorough tutorial on how to ground the CM 690's front panel. Here's a link.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Actually I tried both the usb mic on my tritton headset and used the direct analog port on my xonar. Both of them are buzzing so I know I've got a grounding issue. If I try to reseat the ps it makes no difference or if I try running a ground wire from the body of the ps to the chassis there is no change. If I physically touch the case or chassis the buzzing stops so I know its a grounding issue. The ps should be grounding to the chassis but for some reason it isn't. I've never had a case do this before so I'm a bit perplexed as to the reason for it this time. I've made sure that all of my cables are secured in their spots and that the mb back plane screws are all snug but the problem persists. Otherwise I don't have any issues with this case and all of my front panel connectors, usb's are the only ones I'm using, are working fine.

 

[gba]

Have you tried a different PSU?

 

[Puffnstuff]

Well today I went to the local compusa and purchased a corsair hx1000 ps. Got it installed and the same problem persists. My next step is to remount the mb and make sure that none of the back panel connectors are making contact with the shield. Apart from that the only thing I could do is disconnect the front usb ports from the mb just to rule them out. I'm running out of things to try to correct this issue.

 

[gba]

Yes, I would try:
1) disconnecting everything
2) removing all of the cards except graphics,
3) removing mb from machine.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Last night I disconnected the front panel usb ports and no change. I know for sure that its not the power cables from the ps so it has to be in the case wiring. I also double checked the mb to make sure it isn't misaligned, kind of hard to do, and made sure the io shield wasn't touching the rear mb connectors. My next step is to install a ground lift plug on the ps power cable at the apc if I cannot locate the source of the ground on the chassis. I did play css last night and used the mic by wedging my foot under the case to ground it. I'm going to have to trace all the front panel cables to make sure that they aren't contacting the chassis. This is a real pita. Like I said before I've never had a case do this before and I've been doing this for fairly long time.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I also removed the mb and made sure that none of the solder points were contacting on the back plane. I even disconnected the front panel connector just to be able to rule it out as well and nothing changed. Now I'm going to check the house earth ground outside just to make sure that it has not been disconnected. If that checks out then I'm going to get a ground lift adaptor and see if it clears up. This is a most unusual circumstance to say the least.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Well I just installed a ground lift adaptor and no dice the problem continues. Now I'm wondering if it's the mb causing the problem.

 

[Puffnstuff]

You know I'm really starting to believe that the problem is my my mb. I just turned on my usb printer and it made my system stutter real hard at the same time. I really think that the root of my problem is with this mb and not with anything else.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Well today I solved the great mystery of the feedback noise. I removed the asus p6t and returned it to compusa and stepped up to an evga x58 x3 sli mb and the problem went away. It was the p6t all along and there are guys over in the asus forum bitching about noise from it. Do yourselves a favor and stay away from it. The HAF 932 is a fantastic case.